- Time of past OR future Camino
- Enjoying the camino since 2009
Hi, I have always had an odd fear of (and scary pull towards) edges and don't like being on summits of any kind, no matter how trivial or harmless they are. Apparently this is known as acrophobia, the fear of heights in the sense of being at the highest point. I always thought it was vertigo, but that is a physical thing that makes you lose your balance - still scary though. In short: I get the fear when I should be enjoying the view and taking in the beauty of all things around or below me! Walking over that bridge to Portomarin is the worst part of my repeat Astorga-Santiago walks, to give you an idea. When a pilgrim stopped in that pedestrian lane and blocked my way, my friend and I jumped over to the car lane and she had to hold my hand to get me across. I know it is silly, I know it is irrational, but neither determination nor logic seems to help. And this May I am going walking up the hills and ridges of the Lake District ... because I don't want to accept that I cannot do it! Has anyone got any good advice on how to deal with, treat, lessen, remove or overcome this sort of thing?
I am planning on taking my Pacerpoles for that extra feeling of stability if I get a wobble, plus Kindle and a sitmat in case I can't do it and have to wait it out while my friend goes up to the summit to take photographs. I would rather get up there with her and she is very understanding, but I also don't want to be an absolute nightmare to drag along. When the fear comes on it can be very strong and I freak out until I can sit down somewhere below summit. I know ... not much fun, but it happens, and I would be grateful for any help in tackling it. I have some time and was planning on trying to walk up some smaller summits beforehand. (And I don't believe in homeopathy so those remedies are no good to me.)
Surely I can't be the only one? How do you deal with it?
I am planning on taking my Pacerpoles for that extra feeling of stability if I get a wobble, plus Kindle and a sitmat in case I can't do it and have to wait it out while my friend goes up to the summit to take photographs. I would rather get up there with her and she is very understanding, but I also don't want to be an absolute nightmare to drag along. When the fear comes on it can be very strong and I freak out until I can sit down somewhere below summit. I know ... not much fun, but it happens, and I would be grateful for any help in tackling it. I have some time and was planning on trying to walk up some smaller summits beforehand. (And I don't believe in homeopathy so those remedies are no good to me.)
Surely I can't be the only one? How do you deal with it?